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An Olympic Fencer Refuses To Leave The Floor After Getting Screwed

In the match that would decide who would fence for the gold, Germany’s Britta Heidemann landed a match-clinching touch. But was it in time? South Korea’s Shin A Lam didn’t think so. So she refused to leave.

1. The Stakes:

Germany’s Britta Heidemann and South Korea’s Shin A Lam had already fought to a draw in regulation. Whichever fencer got a touch next would move on to the gold medal round of the Women’s Individual Epeé. There was one second left on the clock in the extra frame.

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2. The Moment:

3. The Complaint:

The clock never started! So Heidemann had more than one second to land the winning touch. At the very least, whether she landed it in time was highly in doubt. The match should have continued into another round, but instead Shin was declared the loser. So South Korea’s coach went to the judges.

5. The Waiting:

And Shin A Lam, now in tears, refused to live the piste (the platform that they fence on). In fencing, leaving the piste means that you have officially accepted the judges’ ruling. And seeing as the clock didn’t start, and she should still have a shot at gold, she sat down. It’s the filibuster of fencing.

10. The Frustration:

Heidemann didn’t know what to do. She communicated with her coaches, but it was clear she was growing impatient. It’s hard to blame her. She had been named the winner and so had a gold medal match to prepare for, but obviously whether or not she was actually the winner was still in question.